Citizens Advice Solihull Borough – News

Citizens Advice Solihull Borough (CASB) has launched the “Tree of Reflection”, a community arts project designed to give local people the opportunity to express how the pandemic has affected their lives over the last 18 months. The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ken Meeson, will be placing his own tribute on the tree in the Solihull Library Courtyard Gallery at 3.00 pm on 13th September 2021. The project is the brainchild of Sharon Gates (above) who is one of the CASB Social Prescribing team.  CASB have been working with GPs in Solihull to provide support and advice to local people who have been isolated and lonely, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  Sharon wanted to create a “Tree of Reflection” that is an interactive,…

Citizens Advice Solihull Borough are delighted to announce the launch of their first CHATTY BENCH as part of the Social Prescribing project.  We are working with 3 Primary Care Networks in South Solihull helping their patients with non medical related issues that are having an impact on their lives. CASB have joined forces with Shirley Community Centre & Fountains Care Home to provide a Bench for the use of Local residents to come along and have a chat with our devoted Volunteers. We understand the difficulties people have faced during the Pandemic, and the increased isolation that this has caused to many. CHATTY Benches have proved a great success in numerous locations throughout the UK since Lockdown, providing a safe space for…

Getting into work after a long time not working is difficult at the best of times. This is even more so now in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the reduced employment opportunities, It could be a very daunting task and can come with a lot of setbacks. This could take a toll on you, especially if the search is not going well. Not getting called back for jobs might really affect your mental health and self-esteem. We know that one of the worst hit by the pandemic is the hospitality sector with many establishments failing leaving less available jobs for people to return to.  Going it alone is very difficult. This is why Citizens Advice Solihull Borough have teamed up with Solihull Community Housing (SCH) to help it’s…

CASB are happy to announce the start of this new project in partnership with Think Active and Solihull MBC. We know that 2020 has been a challenge for us all but there are some people in our borough who due to no fault of their own have become inactive. We want to help those people. If you know someone or you are someone who has been shielding or have had covid-19 or over 60 years old and would like to get moving again then please contact us. Our fully trained Active Chatters will take you through a 6 weeks program from seated to standing exercises at a pace right for you. They will motivated you, have a chat to you and look at what you would like to do to keep going after the 6 weeks. You will get someone to give you a call, motivation…

CASB is funded to provide a holistic wellbeing service to patients of the GP practices in Solihull.  I think of my year as starting in April; this is when our  contract with Birmingham and Solihull CCG starts.  It was strange then to start the year 2 weeks into a 12 weeks of  lock down! I visit 10 GP practices in north Solihull on a 2 week rotation; spending half my week in a GP surgery seeing clients face to face.  Since March 2020, I have been  delivering the service from home over the telephone.  Patients are referred to me by their GP or make a self referral.   In April emergency legislation came into force helping people with rent and wages.   Patients have raised these issues:…